Japan- Tokyoooooo Drift!

27/12

An early get up was had because of our 9:45 train to Busan. It was a (300 km/h) fast train through lush Korean countryside. In Busan it was straight off the train and direct to the ferry port for 3 hour hydrofoil out of Busan Port to Fukuoka past beautiful Korean and Japanese islands as the sun set. Off the boat we found our hostel in Fukuoka, walking with mum in tow. As we arrrived and after completing mums hostel initiation  (compulsory for all first time hostel users) we headed out to dinner to the most famous ramen shop in Fukuoka, Ippudo. We smashed down a bowl of ramen, free salad, a dozen gyoza and some froffs. But our initial gyoza order was forgotten so in traditional Japanese customer service styles we were given repeated low bowing and a second round of froffs for free- huge win!!! After dinner, we then headed back to the train station to arrange our onward travel for the next day; our shinkansen to Tokyo.

28/12

With mum on the trip, early wake ups were compulsory so we were up and off pretty early to complete our quick sightseeing tour of Fukuoka. Smashing out a few temples in not very long left us ready to board our 6 hour shinkansen to Tokyo. Eating and sleeping our way through the journey we soon arrived at Tokyo station but without my Shinkansen ticket (seen holding in the above picture). This made it difficult to navigate the exit gate which was not ideal in the middle of peak hour. 3 of us with our big bags trying to embark and disembark the packed trains was an even more interesting sight. Our navigation on and off Tokyo's metro was achieved only with the help of some drunk Japanese businessmen. But after successfull navigating the busy trains we found our hostel in Tokyo, grabbed dinner and settled in to our new city. 

29/12

Our first full day n the new city meant an early start and some early sightseeing. But before that we demanded breakfast, and after quickly consulting the lonely planet we headed for a hawaiian burger fast food chain. Beers and burgers at 11 am was a good start to the day. Then it was off to the imperial palace to join the weekly running and walking groups around the palace. From the palace we headed to ginza for some shopping (megans favourite shop itoya and various department stores) and later to meet up with Jeremy and Yoko, Megan's brother and sister in law. With hunger setting in Yoko found an izakaya where she ordered up a storm and we made our way home.

30/12

Up early, this time by my request, we all made our way out of the city centre and to the Keio Velodrome to check out some world famous Japanese keirin racing. After the hour and a half journey we paid our 50 cent entry and watched 3 races along with hundreds of japanese people. At the gate we also had the chance to win some prizes in the merchandise lucky dip. After being unsuccessful on our first attempt, the competitive side of Mum emerged- she got every 50 yen coin in her wallet, exited the gate, paid her entry back in and received a ticket for the lucky dip. Despite more than 10 attempts, we only left with multiple packets of rice snacks. Post- keirin we made our way to Harajuku to walk the streets and make some purchases. And as it started to bucket down we decided to walk to Shibuya (not a great choice as we ended up looking like drowned rats)to check out Shibuyas shopping and super intersection before heading home.

31/12

First stop on todays agenda was the Monocle cafe for awesome coffee and cake. With caffeine in our veins, we ventured to Akihabara electric town via a small local shrine. The highlight of Akihabara was the Sega building where the male urinals were equipped with a pissing game. The premise of the game was to keep your stream going for as long as possible so that you could put out a fire engulfing the little Sega man's house- fun times! Being new years eve I thought it might be good afternoon to nap so headed back to the hostel while mum and Megs went to do some more shopping. When they got home we all got read and headed off to meet the girls, Mil, Anna, Lucy and Alex as well as Jeremy and Yoko for Izakaya dinner. With Yoko again delivering on restaurant choice we were soon sat down at an izakaya where we paid 8 dollar for 2 hours of drinking. Making use of the offer everyone indulged in their drink of choice. Then Jeremy took the 8 dollars to a whole 'nother level ordering sake for the table and encouraging me to keep going. In light of the sake madness, Mum decided to head home while the rest of us made a beeline for the ageha bus stop. While waiting for the bus we all had a  beer and before long we were on the bus and in the line to ageha.  As we entered it was craziness, witht he main room of 200 people packed to the rafters with free pole dancers and the dj playing bangers a great time was had by all. 

01/01

Although hungover Megan and I mustered the energy tomake the most of the last full day in tokyo and joined mum on a journey to asakusa temple with the locals on their new years day holiday. Oure efforts soon paid off as we were rewarded with an ice cream sandwich for breakfast. Then after waiting in a long line we threw money in a box for good luck, got soba for a snack then hunted down yoshinoya beef bowls for lunch,. With mum departing that evening we ensure that she was on the corret train to the airport before megan and I jumped onto a different train and made our way to an airport hotel for the night. The hotel suggested that while we were in Narita we should go to a traditional okonomiyaki restaurant- which was amazing. Then it was a final quick dose of japanese game shows before bed.

02/01

Today was moving day so we up about, down at breakfast, packed and then on the free shuttle making our way to the airport. Arriving at the airport with plenty of time to spare we got some strabucks (using our yen poo change on the way) then checked in. Unsure of China Southerns meal policy we grabbed some lunch which included katsu curry land mcdonald and were entertained by the famous new year ekiden relay and college soccer final. But most significant in all this was that this was the end of No Longer Anchored 2012/13- I was going home!